- Dennis Cozzalio reacted to the sad death of Sally Menke...
- ...as did Jim Emerson and Craig Kennedy. (Kennedy also had the trailer for True Grit, while Emerson tackled the hype on The Social Network.)
- Simon Abrams' newest NYFF dispatch found him recommending two films: Aurora and The Strange Case of Angelica. He did not, however, recommend "Bored to Death".
- Scott Von Doviak ran down the weekend at Fantastic Fest and then gave a warm recommendation to Golden Slumber. (Primal, not so much.)
- Lucas McNelly talked about the pitfalls of crowd-funding and presented... more Up Country hijinx!
- James Frazier was positive on Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, while...
- ...Daniel Getahun was less-than-positive. (He was more excited by When Worlds Collide.
- Phil Nugent chuckled at both Steven Colbert in front of The House and the reaction to said appearance, fleshes out the story about Kevin Morrissey's suicide and wondered why anyone should give a fuck about the Hawaii Five-O redux and, especially, The Maddeningly Vague Event.
- More disgorgement from Scott W. Black: Twilight: New Moon, Piranha 3D and The Vicious Kind.
- I saw a film about getting nailed.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
What we've done: September 25th & 26th, 2010
- A whole host of grafs from Scott W. Black: Population 436, Four Lions, The Other Guys, The Relic, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Splice, Quick Change, Legion, Twilight and Wall Street. Damn.
- Craig Kennedy joined in on a lively podcast, leaving The Watercooler to us readers.
- Jim Emerson examines why mediocrity is more palatable in older films.
- Matt Noller proclaims that the new Blu-Ray of Godard's Breathless leaves him... nah, too easy.
- Chuck Bowen gave high praise to Nine Nation Animation and The Killer Inside Me.
- Lucas McNelly let us peek at some of the music that inspired him while shooting Up Country.
- Phil Nugent held forth on television both good and otherwise.
Today's video is something I'd never seen and likely never would have if not for the most recent AV Club Inventory - a very clever French trailer for Brian De Palma's Femme Fatale. Color me impressed.
- Craig Kennedy joined in on a lively podcast, leaving The Watercooler to us readers.
- Jim Emerson examines why mediocrity is more palatable in older films.
- Matt Noller proclaims that the new Blu-Ray of Godard's Breathless leaves him... nah, too easy.
- Chuck Bowen gave high praise to Nine Nation Animation and The Killer Inside Me.
- Lucas McNelly let us peek at some of the music that inspired him while shooting Up Country.
- Phil Nugent held forth on television both good and otherwise.
Today's video is something I'd never seen and likely never would have if not for the most recent AV Club Inventory - a very clever French trailer for Brian De Palma's Femme Fatale. Color me impressed.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
What we've done: September 23rd & 24th, 2010
- Holy shit check that first image from Lucas McNelly's Up Country. I'm probably not the most partial of judges, but damn if this doesn't look like it has awesome potential.
- Craig Kennedy was busy (as usual): a press release from the AFI Fest about their opening & closing films, a consideration of the latest Phoenix/Letterman interview and the box-office collapse of I'm Still Here, a short film that's doing an Oscar-qualification theatrical run, the trailer and poster for Olivier Assayas's Carlos, the trailer for The King's Speech, the trailer for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and the Weekend Forecast. Whew. You make us all look like slackers, dude.
- Simon Abrams, in his latest NYFF dispatch, conflates Of Gods and Men and The Social Network. He then wondered what the best option of the weekend was. (Hint: The Bridge on the River Kwai wins. Every time.)
- Craig D. Lindsey wrote about the Escapism Film Festival (which sounds like a blast) and a a Charlie Chaplin retrospective (which also sounds like a blast). Catfish doesn't sound like so much of a blast, the way he describes it.
- Scott Von Doviak threw up his hands and said, "Yeah, fuck it, Wall Street. Whatever." He seemed far more inspired by the selections at Fantastic Fest, which includes an apparently-quite-good film called Transfer that, from Scott's description, sounds like a must-see.
- Scott W. Black was not wowed by either The Expendables or Joe Dante's Piranha.
- Danny Baldwin figured that greed would whip some owl ass.
Lastly, Jim Emerson got inspired enough by a recent episode of "Mad Men" to create, and then break down in prose, a video in tribute. Here it is:
- Craig Kennedy was busy (as usual): a press release from the AFI Fest about their opening & closing films, a consideration of the latest Phoenix/Letterman interview and the box-office collapse of I'm Still Here, a short film that's doing an Oscar-qualification theatrical run, the trailer and poster for Olivier Assayas's Carlos, the trailer for The King's Speech, the trailer for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and the Weekend Forecast. Whew. You make us all look like slackers, dude.
- Simon Abrams, in his latest NYFF dispatch, conflates Of Gods and Men and The Social Network. He then wondered what the best option of the weekend was. (Hint: The Bridge on the River Kwai wins. Every time.)
- Craig D. Lindsey wrote about the Escapism Film Festival (which sounds like a blast) and a a Charlie Chaplin retrospective (which also sounds like a blast). Catfish doesn't sound like so much of a blast, the way he describes it.
- Scott Von Doviak threw up his hands and said, "Yeah, fuck it, Wall Street. Whatever." He seemed far more inspired by the selections at Fantastic Fest, which includes an apparently-quite-good film called Transfer that, from Scott's description, sounds like a must-see.
- Scott W. Black was not wowed by either The Expendables or Joe Dante's Piranha.
- Danny Baldwin figured that greed would whip some owl ass.
Lastly, Jim Emerson got inspired enough by a recent episode of "Mad Men" to create, and then break down in prose, a video in tribute. Here it is:
Beautiful Girls (and Mad Men): Ghosts of the 37th Floor from Jim Emerson on Vimeo.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
What we've done: September 21st & 22nd, 2010
- Andrew Bemis watched as the Battle of the Aughts approached its finale.
- Simon Abrams continued his NYFF coverage with Robinson in Ruins and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. He also broke down a program of short films screening at ReRun and interviewed D.A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus.
- Scott Von Doviak spoke of Fantastic Fest and remakes.
- Jim Emerson talked about the pleasures of modern television.
- Craig Kennedy reviewed You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and pointed out an unusual pre-screening tactic tied into Freakonomics.
- Sean Burns was nonplussed by Catfish.
- Daniel Getahun weighed in on I'm Still Here.
- Dennis Cozzalio said happy birthday to Showgirls.
- Phil Nugent aired some thought brought on by True Blood and the anti-Park51 rally.
Lastly: Lucas McNelly provided a glimpse of Up Country. Kind of. See for yourself:
- Simon Abrams continued his NYFF coverage with Robinson in Ruins and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. He also broke down a program of short films screening at ReRun and interviewed D.A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus.
- Scott Von Doviak spoke of Fantastic Fest and remakes.
- Jim Emerson talked about the pleasures of modern television.
- Craig Kennedy reviewed You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and pointed out an unusual pre-screening tactic tied into Freakonomics.
- Sean Burns was nonplussed by Catfish.
- Daniel Getahun weighed in on I'm Still Here.
- Dennis Cozzalio said happy birthday to Showgirls.
- Phil Nugent aired some thought brought on by True Blood and the anti-Park51 rally.
Lastly: Lucas McNelly provided a glimpse of Up Country. Kind of. See for yourself:
UP COUNTRY: First shot (sort of) from Lucas McNelly on Vimeo.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
What we've done: September 20th, 2010
- You know the award that Paul Clark won the other day? Lucas McNelly won one too! We are awesome.
- In his latest New York Film Fest dispatch, Simon Abrams unpacked The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceaucescu. He also said that Buried was worth a look.
- Craig Kennedy highlighted a very odd short film, The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers.
- Paul Clark found The Town a bit bland.
- Jim Emerson tackled the flaw of "balance" in political reportage.
- Phil Nugent took aim at Christine O'Donnell's witchery and Meredith Maron's false memories. Also: his dog had a health scare.
Today's video is the opening for William Castle's Strait-Jacket. Mainly I'm putting it up because holy shit the first fifteen seconds are the best cold opening EVAR.
- In his latest New York Film Fest dispatch, Simon Abrams unpacked The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceaucescu. He also said that Buried was worth a look.
- Craig Kennedy highlighted a very odd short film, The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers.
- Paul Clark found The Town a bit bland.
- Jim Emerson tackled the flaw of "balance" in political reportage.
- Phil Nugent took aim at Christine O'Donnell's witchery and Meredith Maron's false memories. Also: his dog had a health scare.
Today's video is the opening for William Castle's Strait-Jacket. Mainly I'm putting it up because holy shit the first fifteen seconds are the best cold opening EVAR.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Announcing... a Halloween blogathon!
While I've participated in many a blogathon in the past, I've yet to host one myself. So hell - let's change that. I'm calling for a blogathon to be pulled together for Sunday, October 17th. The theme? I figured, given the proximity to Halloween, that it should be something horror-realted. But zombies, vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein monsters... all fairly obvious, and all a bit old hat.
But you know what nobody writes about these days? Killer animals. So that's what we're doing.
The rules are simple: You watch a film about some manner of deadly creature, write something - anything! - about that film and post that piece of writing on the 17th. Then, you tell me about it, and I post a link to it here. There's one guideline: If it's from Earth and it's a non-human animal, and it's killing people... it's cool! That leaves a lot of wiggle room. Land, sea or air, from big bad beasts to killer critters, you've got options. Get out there and make me proud!
(Incidentally, someone better write about Night of the Lepus. I'm just sayin'.)
But you know what nobody writes about these days? Killer animals. So that's what we're doing.
The rules are simple: You watch a film about some manner of deadly creature, write something - anything! - about that film and post that piece of writing on the 17th. Then, you tell me about it, and I post a link to it here. There's one guideline: If it's from Earth and it's a non-human animal, and it's killing people... it's cool! That leaves a lot of wiggle room. Land, sea or air, from big bad beasts to killer critters, you've got options. Get out there and make me proud!
(Incidentally, someone better write about Night of the Lepus. I'm just sayin'.)
What we've done: September 17th-19th, 2010
- Andrew Bemis presented Round 5 of the Battle of the Aughts, in which Punch-Drunk Love is still standing. And Mulholland Drive isn't. DOUBT NOT MY POWERS, PUNY MORTALS.
- Daniel Getahun highlighted a series of film events in his area: An Olivier Assayas retrospective, a newly-christened film fest, a celebration of films about music and a couple of specialized programs. He also noticed something very familiar about the structure of The Town.
- Up Country ephemera from Lucas McNelly: a video introducing the cast & crew, some fun with prop maintenance and the lessons of the shoot.
- Dennis Cozzalio charted the heartening evolution of the marquee of the New Beverly.
- Simon Abrams gave some reserved praise to Raging Phoenix and insisted that Alpha and Omega isn't entirely awful. (He did not extend such a claim to Devil.)
- Craig Kennedy further ruminated on fact, fiction and the sleight-of-hand documentary mini-boom while looking forward to Air Doll. Also: Watercooler, Weekend Forecast and the trailer for Jim.
- Craig Lindsey said that if you haven't seen King of New York... well, where have you been?
- James Frazier announced his separation from the Resident Evil series.
- Phil Nugent wondered what James Gray must think of the truth vis-a-vis I'm Still Here.
- Jason Alley liked Machete and The Losers.
- Scott Von Doviak survived the early-career Adam Sandler vehicle Going Overboard.
- Adam Lemke liked The Exploding Girl, loved Exit Through the Gift Shop.
Today's video... isn't much of a video at all, actually. And it doesn't have a thing to do with movies. But I insist that, if George Lucas had found a way to work this song somewhere into the Star Wars prequels, the entire enterprise would have been instantly redeemed. This song is just that damn good. (Why am I posting it now? Just happened to be listening to the album the other night on the way to see The Town, is all.)
- Daniel Getahun highlighted a series of film events in his area: An Olivier Assayas retrospective, a newly-christened film fest, a celebration of films about music and a couple of specialized programs. He also noticed something very familiar about the structure of The Town.
- Up Country ephemera from Lucas McNelly: a video introducing the cast & crew, some fun with prop maintenance and the lessons of the shoot.
- Dennis Cozzalio charted the heartening evolution of the marquee of the New Beverly.
- Simon Abrams gave some reserved praise to Raging Phoenix and insisted that Alpha and Omega isn't entirely awful. (He did not extend such a claim to Devil.)
- Craig Kennedy further ruminated on fact, fiction and the sleight-of-hand documentary mini-boom while looking forward to Air Doll. Also: Watercooler, Weekend Forecast and the trailer for Jim.
- Craig Lindsey said that if you haven't seen King of New York... well, where have you been?
- James Frazier announced his separation from the Resident Evil series.
- Phil Nugent wondered what James Gray must think of the truth vis-a-vis I'm Still Here.
- Jason Alley liked Machete and The Losers.
- Scott Von Doviak survived the early-career Adam Sandler vehicle Going Overboard.
- Adam Lemke liked The Exploding Girl, loved Exit Through the Gift Shop.
Today's video... isn't much of a video at all, actually. And it doesn't have a thing to do with movies. But I insist that, if George Lucas had found a way to work this song somewhere into the Star Wars prequels, the entire enterprise would have been instantly redeemed. This song is just that damn good. (Why am I posting it now? Just happened to be listening to the album the other night on the way to see The Town, is all.)
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